What is the NSSE?

The NSSE (National Study of Student Evaluation) is the research arm for the NCA (North Central Association) which is the accrediting body for our region. We have received a full recommendation for accreditation by the NCA and an invitation by the NSSE to become a pilot school to test their Breakthrough for School Improvement tool. 

What does it mean to be a pilot school?

Being a pilot school means that we will be a “lab” or the NSSE for their research, and we will model our school improvement plan according to the NSSE’s model to fulfill our accreditation requirements through this partnership.

How does this benefit the school?

Averroes Academy will gain prestige by this association as well as a wealth of professional knowledge and tools on how to improve our school. Our curriculum, instruction, and assessments will be aligned with the best industry practices based on solid research and data.

How will it benefit the teachers?

Teachers gain by having immediate access to data and research on which to base school improvement decisions, and to excellent professional development. Teachers take leadership roles through the pilot project to develop their skills and portfolios and advance their knowledge in the teaching profession. 

How will it benefit the students?

Averroes’ students will benefit by our teacher’s commitment to excellence in instruction, and by curriculum, instruction methods, and assessments that address individual learning needs.

What can I do to help?

You can become a pilot project underwriter by donating to the project. We need to raise $4000 to cover the costs of our contract with the NSSE.  For more information, contact the school: 847-272-3557. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACTS: 
Averroes Academy 
847-272-3557

Northbrook, IL - April 2, 2007 – School Improvement Director, Kismet Oz announced today that Averroes Academy earned accreditation for the 2006-07 school year from the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI).  The Association recognized the school on April 2, 2007, at its annual meeting held in Chicago. Averroes Academy School joins 9,000 schools across a 19 state region that were honored for attaining accreditation.  

To earn accreditation, schools must meet NCA CASI’s high standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals from outside the school, and implement a continuous school improvement plan focused on increasing student performance.  The accreditation process is voluntary and requires annual review.   

“Accreditation demonstrates to our students, parents, and community that we are focused on raising student achievement, providing a safe and enriching learning environment, and maintaining an efficient and effective operation staffed by highly qualified educators,” stated President of the Executive Committee of Averroes Academy, Masood Ahmed.  “NCA CASI accreditation is recognized across state lines, which not only eases the transfer process as students move from accredited school to accredited school but also assures parents that the school is meeting regionally and nationally accepted standards for quality and successful professional practice.”  

Accreditation provides an external mark of quality and a focus on continuous school improvement.  According to Ms. Oz , the real value of NCA CASI accreditation is the focus on improvement.  The accreditation process focuses the school staff on analyzing student performance data, identifying areas of weakness, and developing clear goals and plans for improvement.  She stated, “At Averroes, we regularly assess and measure our progress in all goal areas, and NCA CASI holds us accountable for demonstrating growth.  The process keeps everyone in the building focused on raising student achievement.”

Parents and interested community members can learn more about NCA CASI accreditation at www.ncacasi.org.

FOR RELEASE
February 19, 2007

Northbrook, IL -------- Averroes Academy, a small, private Islamic school located in Northbrook, IL has entered into a partnership with the NSSE (National Study of Student Evaluation), to be a pilot school for the NSSE’s Breakthrough for School Improvement System. The NSSE, a Schaumburg, IL based research arm of AdvancED, the regional body that awards accreditation to worthy schools, chose Averroes to test its Breakthrough tools after a chance meeting with Averroes’ Project Director, Kismet Oz at a recent education conference. The school has been undergoing the rigorous process of becoming accredited over the past several months. Oz relates, “We were literally in the right place at the right time. The NSSE wanted a school like ours as a pilot school, and we were embarking on the development of our first school improvement plan to fulfill the requirements of accreditation.”

The match has sparked energy and excitement at the seven-year-old school that has set its sights very high in preparation for the ground breaking of its new school building to happen in the coming months.   During the process of preparing for accreditation, Averroes has refined and elevated its mission to become a model for similar schools in the country. The pilot project helps Averroes achieve its mission and affords many benefits to teachers and students alike. Teachers will now be performing classroom action research and also become participants in NSSE’s own research on the most effective ways to improve schools in terms of curriculum, quality of instruction, and student performance.  Students benefit by having programs implemented based on the best research and data available in the world of education today. “This project is nothing but positive for everyone involved”, relates Anjum Ali, Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Averroes Academy.  “All of us at Averroes feel very fortunate to have this opportunity.”